Wynn Bruce (50-year-old climate activist, Buddhist) set himself ablaze in front of the U.S. Supreme Court last week. This sparked a national discussion about his motivation and whether or not he was inspired by Buddhist monks who had self-immolated in protest against government atrocities in the past.
Bruce, a Boulder, Colorado photographer, entered the Supreme Court plaza at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Earth Day. He then sat down, set himself ablaze and took his place, according to a law enforcement official. The Supreme Court officers responded quickly, but they were unable to extinguish his flames in time.
The Associated Press spoke with investigators on condition that they remain anonymous. They said they could not locate a note or manifesto at the scene immediately and that officials were still trying to establish a motive.
Kritee Kanko was a Zen Buddhist priest and described herself as Bruce’s friend. She shared an emotional tweet on Saturday saying that Bruce’s self-immolation wasn’t suicide but “a deeply fearless act in compassion to raise awareness about the climate crisis.”
She also said that Bruce had been planning the act at least one year. She wrote “#wynnbruce” and received both sympathy and backlash.
Kanko and other members from the Rocky Mountain Ecodharma retreat center in Boulder, issued a statement Monday saying that “none (of the) Buddhist teachers in Boulder knew about Bruce’s plans to self-immolate during this Earth Day.” They also stated that if they had known, they would have stopped him. Kanko stated that Bruce frequented the Buddhist retreat center near Boulder, where he meditated with his community.
The statement stated that self-immolation has never been discussed and that self-immolation was not a climate action. “Despite the dire situation of the planet, and the worsening climate crisis, it is understandable why someone might choose to do this.”
Bruce posted on Facebook about his spiritual practice of Shambhala. This blends Tibetan Buddhism with principles of living a “highly elevated life, fully engaged in the world,” according the Boulder Shambhala Center. Bruce also expressed admiration for Thich Nhat Hanh a Vietnamese monk, who was a leader in engaged Buddhism at the time of his January death.
Bruce’s act to sit down and set himself on fire reminded him of the June 11th 1963 events when Thich Quang duc, a Vietnamese monk seated cross-legged, committed suicide at a busy intersection in Saigon. He was protesting persecution of Buddhists by South Vietnamese government headed by Ngo Dinh Diem (a staunch Catholic).
In a letter addressed to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Hanh considered Hanh a friend. Hanh wrote that Hanh was inspired by the Vietnamese monk’s self sacrifice. Hanh said: “To burn yourself by fire is to show what one is saying it is of the utmost significance. Burning oneself is the most painful thing. It is difficult to speak truthfully while in pain.
Anti-Chinese activists in Tibet have used self-immolation to demonstrate their disapproval. According to the International Campaign for Tibet, 131 men and 28 ladies – including monks, nuns, and laypeople – have self-immolated in protest at Beijing’s tight control over Tibet and their religion since 2009.
Buddhism does not condone self-immolation, or taking one’s own life as a religion, according to Robert Barnett, a London-based researcher on modern Tibetan politics and history.
He said that killing yourself is considered detrimental in Buddhism, as life is precious. “But, if someone self-immolates out of higher motivation and not from a negative emotion like sadness or depression, then the Buddhist position is far more complicated.”
Barnett stated that self-immolation can be considered a positive act if it is done in order to benefit the world. Barnett cited “Jataka Tales”, a collection of South Asian literature that tells the story of previous incarnations of Buddha in animal and human form. In this particular tale, the Buddha offers himself as a selfless act of compassion to a hungry tigress, who is so hungry she’s willing to eat her own cubs.
He said that “that kind of self-sacrifice (other than for the Buddha) is not encouraged, developed, or talked about by normal people.”
Buddhism stresses emotional balance, inclusivity, kindness, compassion, and wisdom, according to Roshi Joan Halifax (environmental activist, abbot at the Upaya Zen Center Santa Fe, New Mexico).
She said, “What we are seeing is hopelessness among many people today.” “We are not called to let that sense of futility deprive us of our ability to turn moral suffering into wisdom and courage.
Halifax stated that despite the pessimism some climate activists might feel, there are reasons to be optimistic.
She said that “you see that people are awakening to the magnitude of climate catastrophe,” and that corporations and countries are shifting away from harmful practices in favor of clean energy.
She said, “I am inspired and hopeful about our ability to adapt and change in this ever-changing environment.” “It is a shame that Bruce didn’t have this kind of optimism.
Bruce was a man of great character. He was a good friend, a great dancer and a wonderful person to know. He was well-known for his love of biking and embrace of public transport.
Jeffry Buechler, Bruce’s friend, stated that he enjoyed the outdoors and brought an intensity to everything he did. Buechler said that Bruce decided on a whim to take a swim in a mountain lake in the early morning of Buechler’s 2014 wedding.
Buechler stated that Bruce also experienced long-lasting effects from the brain injury he suffered in a car accident that claimed his life.
Marco DeGaetano met Bruce during the 1990s at a Denver Universalist church. He said that Wynn had an affinity for helping people in need.
He remembered Bruce being kind to a member of the church who had a mental illness, even though others were distant.
DeGaetano stated that he last saw Bruce around a month ago and that he was outgoing and friendly. Every time he saw Bruce, he always had a smile on the face.
